THIS refers to the editorial ‘Asbestos ban in industry’ (Feb 25), which covered the safety aspects.

There is a dire need to acquaint our workforce with the composition of asbestos material in the form of fibrous silicate minerals — actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, tremolite and chysolite.

It resists heat, fire and electricity. Karachi’s Baldia factory fire is one such example in which 258 people perished. The manufacturing of asbestos involves great health risks such as lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

It can be suggested that the ILO’s Labour Inspection Convention must be enforced in letter and in spirit.

We must chalk out a national workplace policy framework as suggested in the editorial.

In any industry, three elements are mandatory — serviceability, quality and safety. Safety must be ensured at every stage of manufacturing process. This is a need for finding safer substitute material instead of asbestos.

Owing to its adverse effects on health of workers, it must be banned.

R. Akbar

Wah Cantt

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2018